Bitcoin whales hesitate while XRP builds quiet momentum

Bitcoin’s hanging out near all-time highs, headlines are buzzing, and GameStop just casually bought half a billion dollars worth. So why are the whales, the big-money Bitcoin holders, quietly shifting coins to exchanges?

On-chain data says some of the biggest players in the game are easing off the gas. They’re not scooping up BTC like before, instead, they’re edging toward the exit. 

Is this a warning sign? Or just the usual drama in crypto’s never-boring storyline?

Bitcoin whales tap the brakes

Blockchain analysts have spotted something interesting: those giant wallets holding over 10,000 BTC, aka whales, are no longer in accumulation mode. According to Glassnode, their Accumulation Trend Score has dipped to 0.4. 

Translation? We’re now in “let’s cash in some gains” territory.

Even more telling, these wallets, many of which were buying when BTC hovered around $75K, are now moving coins to exchanges. Historically, that’s not just a coincidence. That’s what whales do before they sell.

Is Bitcoin peaking?

Not necessarily. When Bitcoin hits a major rally, it’s normal for big holders to lock in profits. It doesn’t mean the top is in, just that the smart money is doing what it does best: managing risk.

There’s also been a wave of optimism coming out of the Bitcoin 2025 Conference in Las Vegas - everything from pro-crypto policy announcements to whispers about a national Bitcoin reserve. All this hype creates the perfect backdrop for whales to sell into strength while everyone else is euphoric.

But let’s be clear: whales aren’t psychic. They’re just loaded and logical. Their moves usually reflect the broader market cycle - not some insider panic button.

Bitcoin institutional buying

While whales are trimming, institutions are still piling in. This week, GameStop revealed it bought 4,710 BTC, roughly $500 million, as part of its bold leap into digital assets.

MicroStrategy isn’t sitting still either. It just added another 4,020 BTC, bringing its total stash to a staggering 580,250 coins.

So, while some are taking chips off the table, others are going all in. If anything, the long-term belief in Bitcoin is still standing tall.

XRP strategic reserve move

Speaking of crypto confidence, XRP’s making headlines of its own. Webus International just announced plans to raise $300 million to build a strategic XRP reserve. The goal? Use XRP to power cross-border payments across its AI-driven transport network.

And it’s not the only one jumping on the XRP bandwagon. VivoPower, a Nasdaq-listed energy company, recently secured $121 million to kick off its own XRP treasury strategy - making it the first publicly traded firm to do so.

With former Ripple board member Adam Traidman joining as an advisor and major royal family backing, it’s clear XRP isn’t just riding the hype - it’s attracting serious money. 

Bitcoin price prediction 2025

In the short term, Bitcoin might get a bit choppy. It’s bouncing between $107K and $109K, and if whale selling picks up, we could see a test of support levels.

But zoom out, and this isn’t a crash according to analysts - it’s a breather. Mid-size wallets and smaller holders are still accumulating, which signals grassroots confidence.

And on the XRP front? Institutional interest is picking up, with treasury strategies, ETF rumours, and real-world payment use cases gaining steam.

Bottom line: don’t let the whale noise throw you off your game. Whether you’re in Bitcoin, XRP, or both, remember that markets move in cycles. The key is staying focused, not flustered.

Bitcoin technical insight: Whale slump or institutional uptick?

Whales are selling. It happens. They’ve made a tidy profit, and now they’re managing risk. It doesn’t mean the sky is falling -  just that the market is cooling off after a hot streak.

Meanwhile, institutions are buying, retail is holding, and the broader adoption trend is still moving forward.

The question isn’t whether whales are selling. It’s whether you’ve got a plan that can handle it. At the time of writing, BTC is hovering around its all-time high in a buy zone - hinting at potential further upside. The bullish narrative is challenged by the volume bars indicating dominant sell pressure over the past few days. Bulls could encounter a resistance wall at the all-time high, and should we see a slump, prices could find support at the $102,800, $93,400 and $82,800 support levels.

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